Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks / 225 g) unsalted butter, softened, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups packed (300 g) dark brown sugar
- 5 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vanilla extract
- 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and levelled
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 g) fine sea salt
- ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk or heavy cream, room temperature
- -- For the Butterscotch Glaze ---
- 4 tablespoons (56 g) unsalted butter
- ½ cup packed (100 g) dark brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) heavy cream (double cream)
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) vanilla extract
- A small pinch (1 g) salt
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Generously grease and flour a 10-cup Bundt pan or 9x5 inch loaf tin, ensuring every crevice is coated.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set the dry ingredients aside.
- Using a stand mixer, cream the room temperature butter and brown sugar on medium-high speed for 5–7 minutes until very light, fluffy, and pale in colour. This creaming process is critical for aeration.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Reduce the mixer speed to low. Add the dry ingredient mixture in three additions, alternating with the milk/cream in two additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix only until just combined; do not overmix.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Tap the pan gently on the counter to release any large air bubbles, and smooth the top surface.
- Bake for 70–80 minutes. The cake is done when a long wooden skewer inserted into the deepest part comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes before gently inverting the cake onto a wire cooling rack to finish cooling completely.
- To make the butterscotch glaze: In a small saucepan, melt the 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally. Let it simmer for exactly 1 minute.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Carefully whisk in the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt until the glaze is smooth.
- Pour the warm glaze evenly over the slightly warm or fully cooled cake, allowing it to drip attractively down the sides. Allow the glaze to set for 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving.